Chapter 27

After their afternoon rendezvous, and getting caught in a peculiar position by Greg, both women decided a walk in the park was just what they needed to cap off their impromptu afternoon together. Sitting on a park bench, the two were just enjoying being together.

Natalia laced her fingers with Olivia's and lay their joined hands in her lap. "Mm, such a beautiful day, in this big empty park."

"It's not empty, I'm here." Olivia countered.

"So, I've been thinking. Maybe we need a timetable, you know, set a date to tell Rafe, a date to quit worrying that people might think we're together, when we are together. We have been. What are we so afraid of?"

"Me, I am afraid of everything. I wish I could be more like you."

"I'm scared, but that's how I know it's worth it." She slid closer on the bench and lay her head on Natalia's shoulder. "Why are we so scared now? We have been together since January. We're engaged for crying out loud. We haven't been hiding, and yet, now we are. What happened?"

"Rafe, mainly. It's like, Rafe got out and everything snowballed. Things with Frank got worse, now all of the sudden Father Ray is interested in my love life. I don't feel like we're hiding necessarily, I think we are being cautious. What are you scared of?"

"Rafe. Losing you."

"What? Why? Baby, you know you will never lose me."

"What if Rafe makes you choose, me or him, I couldn't live with that. I guess that's why I'm being cautious now. It's different now, and until Rafe knows and we can really be open, I'm gonna keep being scared."

"Oh honey. There is no choosing. Even if Rafe is upset. I will have both. I know my son. He will come around, it just might take longer then we want, but he will. He loves me. So please stop worrying about that."

"Okay. So why have you pulled back, become afraid?"

"Same, only different."

"Explain please."

"I'm not worried about having to choose. I'm scared of Rafe reacting bad and ending up back in prison for the rest of his sentence. I'm scared that he will lash out and hurt you again. But I don't want to hide. I love you too much not to hold your hand, or go to dinner with you, which we have all but stopped doing. I think, I think we just need to be us, let people think what they want. It's what we've been doing, so let's go back to doing that."

"You know what, I think that's a great idea. When did you get so smart?"

"That's why you pay me the big bucks."

Both women had a much-needed laugh. Olivia rose from the bench and reached out a hand for Natalia. "Come on, lets walk a little more." They walked hand in hand, a little further and then sat at a picnic table to see what they had in their purses to eat. Neither one had thought to grab food for their little walk.

Olivia pulled out a bottle of water, gum and a couple of granola bars.

Laughing Natalia shook her head. "This is a sad little picnic."

"No, it's not. No, no we got our water, we got our…what do you want? Dark chocolate almond or chocolate chip? And we've got gum, for after." She stated, leaning into Natalia and laughing joyfully.

"Oh good, great." Smiling and chuckling, Natalia propped her elbow on the table and lay her chin in her hand, staring at her lady love. "I like your hair like that, I was gonna tell you that, earlier."

"Thanks. Stop stalling, pony up for the picnic."

"I don't have anything."

"What have you got in there, come on, you've got a stash."

Natalia pulled a few objects from her purse. "I have, I have tissues, for clean up."

"Well, that'll be nice…napkin" She took one and dabbed her neck, making Natalia laugh harder.

"I have some mints." They were enjoying being together, laughing at their own antics, and then Frank walked up. Both women looked up at him and simultaneously greeting him. "Hi."

He looked only at Natalia, ignoring that Olivia was there. "You're hard to find. I just wanted you to know Natalia, that I got a call from corrections, and well, they've scheduled a hearing for Rafe next week."

"I know, I know that you did that. Doris came by the house and…"

"I didn't want her to say anything."

"Well, I'm so glad that she did. But then I wasn't really sure if it was gonna happen or not. Or, or if I should call you…"

"The judge is ruling weather Rafe is ready to be released from the half-way house."

"Are you, do you think that this means he could be coming home for good?"

"If the hearing goes well."

"Frank, I don't know, I don't know how to thank you for everything that you've done, for Rafe."

"It's no problem, no problem at all. I just wanted to help. It's just uh, it's hard to see a good person go down the wrong path."

Both women knew that he wasn't talking about Rafe. Olivia could feel her temper rising. "Frank…" Before she could even start to put him in his place, Natalia lay a hand on her arm and whatever she was going to say died on her lips. This was a chance for Rafe, she had to keep her mouth shut…for now.

"Anyways, you ladies have a good day." Frank spun on his heel and walked off.

Olivia and Natalia turned to each other and embraced in a tight hug. "My son could be coming home."

"Our son, our son, might be coming home." Olivia said against her neck, hoping Natalia felt the same way she did, that all of their children are just that, theirs.

"Did you just say our?..."

"Yeah, I mean, I hope that's okay…"

"Okay? That is so much more then okay. I just, I didn't think you thought of Rafe, like…that."

"Of course, I do. You know, I kind of think of all of our children as ours. I know Rafe and Ava are adults, and Rafe will never think of me as a parent, but he is my son, I would do anything for him, just like Emma and Ava."

"I know, I know you would. I'm just so happy. Rafe might be coming home, and you, you are just so perfect…"

"Not perfect, just completely in love with you, all of you. Including Rafe."

"God, I love you." She leaned in and kissed her sweetly, but with passion.

"So, what do you say we take the afternoon off and go prepare the house a little more for Rafe."

"Baby, we can't we have…"

"It can all be rescheduled for another time, this, our son, is more important."

"Olivia, I will never tire of hearing you say that."

"You know, I feel the same way about Emma. Now, let's go." Raising from the table, she reached a hand to her fiancé and pulled her to her feet. After one more kiss, they walked to the Beacon to let Greg know they are leaving for the day and pick up their car to head home.

Arriving at the farmhouse porch, Natalia turned to Olivia, "I have so many things to do now. You know, I have to get something to wear for court, I have to fix up Rafe's room, I can't believe my little…boy's coming home."

"I'm so happy for you."

"It's gonna be a little different for us though, until we tell him…"

"Not today honey, today, today we celebrate. Come on." She moved to enter the house but was stopped by a firm hand on her arm, spinning her around and smashing their lips together. They kissed there, standing on the porch to their home, getting lost in each other. Hands roaming over one another's backs. They kissed for long moments, before finally pulling apart, and beginning their task of preparing for Rafe's return home.

The following day, leaving Natalia under the pretense of letting her 'nest' a little, Olivia found herself at Cross Creek. Jeffery was one of the few people that really knew about she and Natalia, and she could use a friend, and Doris Wolfe, just wasn't the friend for this sort of thing.

Jeffery opened the door and invited her in.

"Thanks." She breathed out, walking to the front of the fireplace.

"What's up?"

"I, I need a favor."

"Do I need to sit down?"

Chuckling nervously, she told him what she needed. "It's about Rafe. I, I just, I was wondering if you could speak at his hearing. You know, since you're the victim, it might…help. And since you have a new little boy of your own, I thought you might be a little more sympathetic to Natalia and her son."

"I like Rafe. Of course, I will, be glad to do that."

"Good."

"But a…you didn't have to come all the way over here to ask me that. So, what else in on your mind?"

"Well, don't go all black ops on me. I'm just talking to a friend."

"Uh-huh."

She exhaled a sigh. "This hearing could change everything, and I'm not just talking for Rafe."

"Oh, you mean, when Rafe comes home, he might discover that you and his mom are…closer…"

"Engaged, Jeffery. Engaged, and he doesn't even know we're together, and I'm not his favorite person. All I want is for Natalia to be happy, but I also know, that Rafe coming home, could…cause problems and…"

"Everything changes when there's a child involved. You know, you do everything you can to protect them, but uh, sometimes you go too far."

"Are we still talking about me? I messed this up right? I should never have told you that I saw Reva with Edmond right before he died."

Reva had been listening from the kitchen and chose to make her presences known. "Hello Olivia."

"Reva."

"So, you're the rat. I should have known."

"I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to stab you in the back."

"No worries. Besides, what could you have seen."

"Just saw you and Edmond, from a distance, and it seemed like you were arguing."

"Mm, so you didn't see me push him in the lake? Hang him? Shoot him? Kick him till he dropped?" Olivia pressed her lips tightly together and shook her head 'no'. "But if you want to go to the police, that'll make your day."

"No one's going to the police." Jeffery interjected.

Olivia looked at Reva. "Why? Do you have something to hide?"

"No."

"Reva." Jeffery began just as the phone rang. "Maybe we should discuss what Olivia saw."

"No, I should get that." She walked away and answered the phone. Hanging up she came back over the pair. "That was Shane."

Olivia put on a smirk, aiming for a rise outta Reva. "I just saw him. He reminds me so much of Josh."

"Don't even think about it."

Jeffery stopped the snark fest before it could start. "So uh, what's happened?"

"Shane is going to put Edmond to rest at a gathering in the park."

"What, like, a picnic?"

"My son has a conscious. He has to do this for one reason, and I want to be there for another."

"You're not getting anywhere near there." Jeffery stated.

"I have to go, Edmond can't hurt me now, and I have to be there for Shane."

"You know if she doesn't go, it might make her look even more suspicious." Oliva added. "Just a thought."

Jeffery stared at Reva. "This is crazy."

"I'm gonna change my clothes." Reva walked off.

Jeffery and Olivia just looked at each other.

Olivia, Reva, and Jeffery were walking a path in the park to a table with Shane, Dinah, Mallet, Marina, and baby Henry, already were. Reva faced Jeffery. "Wow, it looks like they started without us."

"You sure you wanna do this?"

"Absolutely. What about you Olivia, you ready to dance?"

"I can twist, tango, I can do it all." The two-woman smiled and chuckled, then continued the last few feet to the others.

Reaching the table, Reva took her son in a hug, "hey."

"Hi. You came."

"Hi baby. Did you go ahead and open the Champaign without us?"

Dinah poured her a glass and passed it to her. "Yes we did, but guess what, there's plenty. Here you go."

"Just a little bit for me, cause I'm supposed to be a good girl."

"Okay."

Olivia folded her arms across her chest to guard from the chill. "You know, I actually thought that, that he had changed. Become more of a human being."

In a small voice Shane said, "Yeah, we had fun that day didn't we?" Thinking of a day he, Edmond, and Olivia had spent drinking and playing guitar hero.

"Yeah, I just thought being a parent would lighten him up, you know. Even though he didn't have a lot of time with his daughter."

Shane's voice was tender. "Well five minutes with Lara, would change your life."

"Being a parent changed me, I guess it was just a little too late for him."

"You know I'm uh, I wish that things didn't end so badly for him, but I think it's time for all of us to move on. So um, Jeffery, would you like to say anything about Edmond?"

"Uh, no that's okay Shane you go ahead, I think that um, out of all the people here, I think that he might have actually cared about you the most."

Shane nodded his head. "Okay, Edmond um, Edmond let his hatred and his mistrust guide his life, and because of that, he died alone, and no one misses him. I don't think he ever understood what he was missing out on, by not letting good people into his life. So, I hope that uh, I hope that we all can learn from Edmonds mistakes. That man was a tortured soul, and I just hope he's at peace."

Josh Lewis had walked up during the speech. "Well, I guess uh, most of us are stronger, for having survived him."

Dinah raised her glass. "He left me to die in a burning house, I think it made me stronger."

"One of my highlights, was a burning barn." Jeffery contributed.

"Tried to drown me and my baby." Reva added.

"Tried to drive us off the side of a cliff." Dinah continued. "So, I say to his killer, job well done sir."

Everyone drank to that. Moments later Remy and Christina walked up. "Hey, is this a private ceremony, or can anyone join?" Remy asked.

"Oh no, you're more than welcome." Shane said.

Jeffery looked at Mallet. "You on the clock Mallet?"

"No, he is not, he's just here as a friend, to show some support. No shop talk." Marina answered for him.

Holding a laptop, Mallet looked at Shane. "No, I wanted to give Shane something. I guess since you're the closet thing that Edmond had to next of kin. It was found among his personal effects. I guess it's a speech he taped. He was gonna put it in the time capsule, for the point of the foundation, for Lara's hospital wing."

Josh held out his hand. "Wait, wait, wait, just a second. Cause I don't know that Shane should see that right now."

"It's, dad it's alright. I'm okay." Shane interjected. Wrapping an arm around Dinah. "Go ahead and que it up. Let's watch it."

Mallet opened the laptop and set it on the picnic basket. Pressing play and stepping back. The video was Edmond talking about what he felt life was about. He spoke of Lara, and of his selfishness. Of the way he lived his life, and of his regrets. The things he wished he could change. The value of precious moments in life. Why we waste time. The fact that love is so much more important than anything else in life. He tells us to never give up, no matter how hopeless life seems. When it's finished, Mallet closed the laptop and a still cloaked the air.

Josh scratched his head and then spoke. "Well, as bad as Edmond was, he obviously loved his daughter, and it's unfortunate, that he didn't have a chance to spend more time with her, while she was growing up. Maybe it would have changed him. Maybe if he'd had the chance to do those things that really stay with a father. You know, helping her blow out her birthday candles, or watching her take her first steps."

"Maybe if he had, things would have been different for him, and his victims." Jeffery added.

"Maybe if that were the case, he would have been able to rise above the things that he's done." Shane stated. Clearing his throat to stop the tears. "I don't know, I mean I understand how you guys must feel. It's a little different for me, you know, I got to see him at his best. Watching him express true love, for his daughter. But um, I wish it would have changed him."

"Well, I hated the man." Reva said with a shrug.

Jeffery stepped to her. "Okay, Reva, maybe we should…"

"No, really let me finish. Come on, we all know. He was a bastard, right? He was a monster. And seeing the way it ended for him, made me aware of all of the blessing that I have. Maybe he had to die, to make us all realize that we're not alone. Like he was. That we're all loved, unlike he was. And maybe finally, with him dying, he made something worthwhile of his life. He didn't die in vain. Right? Cheers to that."

After the ceremony for Edmond, Olivia wondered to the gazebo that meant so much to her and Natalia. Feeling like she just needed to talk to her. To explain things to her. She had a little better understanding of their love and how precious it really is. Receiving Natalia's voice mail, her face dropped, but she proceeded with the message she felt was so important. "Hey Natalia, it's me. Look I know things are going to be hard with Rafe, but I want you to know one thing. Nothing is going to get in our way, because you are, way too important to me. And if you need anything, you or Rafe, you can count on me, cause we're in this together. Right? This, it's what I want. More than anything. I love you." She hung up and just looked around the gazebo, having hope, hope and faith, that everything was going to be okay. She would make sure it was. Her future wife and her family are what's most important in life, and she would not lose that. She would not die alone, like Edmond.

The day of the hearing, Olivia and Natalia were in her suite at the Beacon, trying to get some work done and fill time before the hearing. They were looking at their calendar and events planned. Olivia talked to Greg without looking up. "Okay, so we need to restock the wine cellar Greg."

"I already put in the order."

"And how many guests are we expecting?"

Natalia was walking from one side to the other of Olivia trying to see over her shoulder. "About 250." She answered. Reaching over Olivia to move a paper from her view.

"Okay." Olivia removed a pen cap with her mouth and made a few marks on the page she was holding.

Natalia looked up at Greg who was still standing in front of them "Was there something else?"

"Yes…where did you get those shoes? They are fantastic." He asked. Motioning to Olivia's Jimmy Choo's.

Olivia all but squealed. "Oohh. Thank you." She smiled at Natalia. Olivia answered him and sent him on his way.

Frank was sulking at the bar in Company, scooting his food around with his fork. Buzz walked up, chuckling lightly. "You wanna send that back? Think before you answer."

"It's not the food pop, I just got a lot on my mind."

"I know it's Rafe. Mallet told me. I mean, why are you doing this to yourself? I hate to tell you this son, but she isn't gonna leave Olivia, no matter how much you do."

"I did it more for Rafe then I did for Natalia. Why is everybody making such a big deal outta this? I didn't want anybody to know."

"Frank, you have to stop. The woman is off the market."

"I'm not chasing Natalia anymore. She's on her own with Olivia." He grabbed his plate and walked away.

Olivia and Natalia were walking to their cars, laughing about Greg. Olivia placed her hand on Natalia's arm, stopping their motion. "Who knew the banquet manager has a foot fetish."

"I know. I really thought he was gonna say something about us."

"Why, what'd we do."

"Um, what he walked in on the other day. And we were standing a little close."

"We were reading a piece of paper. We don't have to worry about what they think, the staff. We are being us remember. Forget it."

"Yeah I know. Besides, he was just checking out your shoes."

"Well, they are cute."

"They are so cute, and I, I need to borrow them."

"Are you kidding, they're boats, you'd drown in them."

"No. So I'm parked over there. Are you gonna go back inside, or what are you doing?"

"I have some things I need to do before Rafe's hearing, so…"

Natalia got a giddy smile. "I'm just so excited. You know. I don't wanna get my hopes up too much, but, to have him home, after months of not even being able to hug him…"

"You're allowed to be excited, okay. I'm excited for you."

"You don't look so excited."

"I'm, I'm, excited on the inside. I am."

"You know it doesn't mean that things with us are gonna change. It's just gonna be a little complicated, for a bit."

"Yeah, I know. Just, what if, what if Rafe can't deal with this?"

"I have faith in him. He just needs to be told, um, in the right way, at the right time."

"And how and when would that be?"

"I have no idea."

"Okay. It's just, you know, I live there, and we share a room, and we're gonna have to tell him, like, today. Unless I'm gonna stay at the Beacon…for a few days."

"No, Olivia, can we just get through the hearing? Please."

"Yeah. Yes." She brought Natalia into her arms. "Yes. One thing at a time. Hearing first."

"Yes, hearing first, and then, and then everything else."

"Okay." She bent her head and landed her lips on Natalia's. This kiss was for luck at the hearing. This kiss spoke of family, of their future together with two of their three children home. This kiss, spoke of hope.